Italian ref escapes unhurt after being hit by ice cream

Salernitana were fined 5,000 euros after their supporters threw firecrackers at rival fans during their match at Pescara and Venezia were fined 1,500 euros after fans set off a firecracker in their own section of the ground.

Italian second tier club Palermo have been fined after a referee was hit by an ice cream, the Serie B league said on Tuesday, adding that the official escaped unharmed in the incident. The league said in its weekly disciplinary report that during Monday’s game against Foggia “an ice cream cone was thrown which hit the main match official, without causing injury.” Palermo, beaten 2-1, were fined 10,000 euros ($12,348).

Salernitana were fined 5,000 euros after their supporters threw firecrackers at rival fans during their match at Pescara and Venezia were fined 1,500 euros after fans set off a firecracker in their own section of the ground. In another incident, Pro Vercelli team staff member Giorgio Bertolone was banned for the rest of the season after punching two members of rival squad Brescia during the match.

The report said that, early in the second half, Bertolone “intentionally and violently struck the face of a staff member of the opposing team with several punches, causing an injury.” It said that Bertolone also hit a Brescia substitute when he tried to intervene. Pro Vercelli have not yet commented on the incident.